NDIS

The Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA) is committed to advocating for a holistic approach to mental wellness for all South Australians. This means having access to appropriate mental health treatment, community based rehabilitation and disability support so that recovery is meaningful to each individual. We have released a discussion paper about this, you can read it here.

We have been commissioned to undertake research which examines the transition to the NDIS for consumers, carers and providers.

Full findings will be delivered in late December 2019. We have shared our preliminary findings in our monthly NDIS enews update. Here they are below;

Advocacy

The majority of people in state funded psychosocial programs require support and advocacy to apply for the NDIS. Carer focus groups and case studies indicate the important role carers play in supporting clients through all aspects of the NDIS process - gathering evidence, appealing decisions, gaining access and implementation of realistic plans.

Many people in state psychosocial programs do not have advocacy support from carers and rely heavily on assistance from Non Government Organisation Support Workers and Mental Health Staff. Approximately 38% of people who completed the Consumer Survey have gained Access to the NDIS. This suggests state psychosocial programs are an important pathway to the NDIS. Information from workshops and focus groups confirm the NDIS advocacy role as a significant component of NGO Support Worker activity.

Program Collaboration

Case studies have highlighted the importance for both state psychosocial programs and NDIS providers to work collaboratively. To reduce gaps in services there are times when clients require access to state psychosocial programs with active NDIS Plans. NGO services within state programs are in a position to provide a responsive, individualised and persistent service closely linked with Mental Health Services.

Support is flexible depending on client need. This is particularly important as clients require more intensive support when becoming unwell; have increased psychosocial support needs for community living and/or are disadvantaged by the severity of psychosocial disability.

Achieving the same level of service intensity within NDIS Plans is difficult to replicate and in some instances NDIS Support Coordinators are requesting involvement of state programs such as Individual Psychosocial Rehabilitation Support Service (IPRSS) and Housing and Accommodation Support Partnership (HASP).

Governance

Procedures to guide the transition between the NDIS and state programs are not clear. This causes confusion amongst stakeholders and potentially can lead to a gap in service for clients. Guidelines with details on transition activities and respective roles of service providers are required to help reduce inconsistency and allow for a smoother process for clients and carers.

These findings with others are being compiled by the Project Team. A final meeting with the Program Partners Group (PPG) will be held in early December to consider recommendations with the Final Report due later in December.

Are you eligible for NDIS?

The NDIS have produced a checklist for you to see whether you are eligible for a plan. You can access it here.

reimagine.today

You can also visit the reimagine.today website which is here. This website gives very clear and easy to access information on the NDIS and mental health.

You can find out what is and what isn't covered, tips on putting your access plan together, go through their checklist and find providers.

CMHA - 3rd National Mental Health and NDIS Conference

A conversation about what comes next

Community Mental Health Australia are pleased to announce our Third National NDIS and Mental Health Conference will be in partnership with the Mental Health Coalition of South Australia to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from March 30-31, 2020.

The NDIS rollout is largely complete and now is the time to look forward as to what comes next.

This is a timely conference as we look beyond the NDIS to how it interfaces with other key systems within mental health psychosocial supports and services including how the recommendation from the Productivity Commission will likely influence these.

The Conference program has been co-designed with local and interstate colleagues, including consumers and carers. The conference looks at the issues raised from a national perspective and compares experiences across jurisdictions. The MHCSA has chaired a national programming steering committee made up of CMHA Executive Leadership Group members, their nominees and people with lived experience.

As the NDIS rollout enters its final stages this is your chance to be part of the national conversation about what comes next. There are many lessons we can share but more importantly this conference is about collectively taking those learnings and shaping the future of mental health services and NDIS.

Join us as we consider how to improve human rights outcomes and increasing roles for lived experience support and hear about innovations from metropolitan, rural and remote areas across Australia.